As our food systems become increasingly complex, the food we choose to consume affects not only our own health, but also the environment, our ethical framework, the Earth's biodiversity, and so much more.

But much of the data of our food purchases remains hidden to us as end consumers. Food labels only give us a basic snapshot. And pushes for better labeling are met by slow-moving governments and companies resistant to change.

This isn’t good enough.

We, as consumers, deserve to know more about our food.

So, I went on a mission to come up with something better. For 10 weeks, I carefully tracked all of my grocery purchases in hopes of creating a better and more visual look into my food purchases.

A label 2.0 sorta speak.

Here’s what I found.

Data Overview

Over 10 weeks, I visited a grocery store 18 different times:

290Total products purchased

$842Total dollars spent

$47Avg dollars spent per store visit

16Avg products purchased per store visit

Buying Habits GMOs + Organics

44%

Contain GMOs

23%

Are Organic

Stores most poular visited

Large chain8 visits

Corner bodega10 visits

The products traveled all over the world to get to me.

173Products had location info

117Products had no location info

40%of total products had no location info

My location

Product location(size of circle represents # of products)

Over 10 weeks, I consumed 3,548 unique ingredients.

Here they are, sorted by their popularity:

145

Salt

122

Water

91

Sugar

72

Sunflower Oil

69

Canola Oil

68

Citric Acid

62

Spices

61

Xantham Gum

43

Sea Salt

43

Red Delicious Apple

40

Cherry Tomatoes

39

Lemon Juice

38

Garlic

37

Onion Powder

36

Eggs

36

White Wine

36

Spinach

33

Cream

31

Turmeric

28

Rice

26

Soybeans

26

Cranberries

26

Carrots

25

Mint

25

Almonds

25

Black Pepper

24

Soybean Oil

24

Shallots

23

Wheat Flour

22

Expeller Pressed Canola Oil

22

Ascorbic Acid

22

Palm Oil

22

Milk

21

Cultures

21

Edamame

21

Organic Carrots

21

Carrot

20

Durum Wheat Semolina

20

Black Pepper Extract

20

Apple Cider Vinegar

20

Modified Starch

20

Onions

20

Zucchini

20

Elderberry Juice Concentrate

19

Corn Starch

19

Butter

18

Non-Fat Milk

18

Distilled Vinegar

18

Folic Acid

18

Enzymes

18

Salmon

18

Whole Wheat Flour

18

Orzo Pasta

18

Yogurt

18

Soy Sauce

18

Riboflavin

18

Fish Stock

18

Cod

18

Wheat Maltodextrin

18

Rice Starch

18

Parsley

18

Chervil

17

Sesame Oil

17

Niacin

17

Ginger

16

Thiamine Mononitrate

16

Onion

16

Reduced Iron

15

Brown Sugar

15

Mustard Seed

15

Oleoresin of Paprika

15

Mayonnaise

15

Sesame Seeds

15

Scallions

15

Kale

15

Cabbage

14

Potato Starch

14

Raisins

13

Glucose Syrup

13

Wheat

13

Avocado

12

Vegetable Rennet

12

Shrimp

11

Rosemary Extract

11

Rye Flour

11

Enriched Flour

11

Green Peas

11

Flaxseed

11

Corn Grits

11

Stone Ground Whole Wheat Flour

11

Rye Sour

11

Millet

11

Malted Barley Flour

11

Rye Malt

11

Rolled Wheat Flakes

11

Crushed Oats

11

Crushed Rye

10

Whole Green Peas

10

Tomatoes

10

Compressed Yeast

10

Red Onion

10

Soy Lecithin

10

Rice Vinegar

10

Organic Black Beans

10

Filtered Water

10

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

10

Crushed Barley

10

Vanilla

10

Organic Potatoes

10

Organic Onions

10

Organic Celery

10

Olive Oil

10

Ascorbyl Palmitate

10

Inactive Yeast

10

Organic Lentils

10

Cracked Wheat

10

Molasses

10

Calcium Carbonate

10

Active Yeast

9

Broccoli

9

Tofu

9

Chinese Broccoli

9

Rice Noodles

9

Cheese Cultures

9

Maltodextrin

8

Tomato Paste

8

Green Chili

8

Calcium Chloride

8

Red Bell Peppers

8

Cocoa Butter

8

Nonfat Milk Powder

8

Green Onion

8

Tomato Puree

8

Vinegar

8

Peppers

8

Chickpea Flour

8

Ghee

8

Vegetable Powder

8

Paneer

8

Spring Onion

8

Sodium Bicarbonate

8

Oregano

8

Tomato Juice

7

Celery

7

Organic Kiwi

7

Phosphoric Acid

7

Garlic Powder

7

Cayenne Pepper

7

Salt

7

Honey

7

Cilantro

7

Cashews

7

Cauliflower

7

Lima Beans

7

Basmati Rice

6

Sulfur Dioxide

6

Goats Milk

6

Organic Alcohol

6

Organic Wheat

6

Organic Soybeans

6

Organic Soy Sauce

6

Tahini

6

Pepper

6

Roasted Red Peppers

6

Roasted Garlic

6

Baby Arugula

6

Rosemary

6

Thyme

6

Roasted Butternut Squash

6

Red Quinoa

6

Wheatberries

6

Organic Grade A Milk

6

Vitamin D3

6

Whey Protein Concentrate

5

Baby Spinach

5

Dextrose

5

Pumpkin Seeds

5

Natural Vanilla Flavor

5

Shiro Miso

5

Whey

5

Guar Gum

5

Semisweet Chocolate

5

Chocolate Liquor

5

Chickpeas

5

Leavening

5

Locust Bean Gum

5

Pre Gelatinized Potato Starch

5

Lentil Flour

5

Acetate

5

Invert Sugar

5

Shredded Carrots

5

Quinoa

5

Cheese Culture

5

Green Bell Peppers

5

Chives

5

Red Wine Vinegar

4

Black Beans

4

Starch

4

Organic Pasteurized Milk

4

Mirin

4

Thai Lime Leaf

4

Green Leaf Lettuce

4

White Pepper

4

Fried Garlic

4

Red Thai Chili

4

Mung Bean Noodles

4

Garlic Chili Sauce

4

Cumin

4

Lactic Acid

4

Rice Powder

4

Peanut Butter

4

Spearmint

4

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

4

White Cabbage

4

Corn Syrup

4

Dijon Mustard

4

Alcohol

4

Alcohol

4

Red Cabbage

4

Basil Leaf

4

Wheat Starch

4

Dry Roasted Peanuts

4

Baby Corn

4

Rice Paper

4

Shrimp Salt

4

Unbleached Wheat Flour

4

Tapioca

3

Microbial Rennet

3

Belgian Chocolate Chips

3

Natural Flavors

3

Mustard Seeds

3

Malic Acid

3

Raspberry Flavor

3

Raspberry Concentrate

3

White Wine Vinegar

3

Vanilla Extract

3

Raspberries

3

Peanut Oil

3

Peanuts

3

Raspberry Vinegar

3

Pecans

3

Dried Cranberries

3

Penicillum Roquefortii

3

Arabica Whole Bean Coffee

3

Pasteurized Milk

3

Bleu Cheese

3

Frisee

3

Redina

3

Red Mustard

3

Mizuna

3

Tatsoi

3

Red and Green Chard

3

Tango

3

Yeast

3

Lollo Rosa

3

Red and Green Romaine

3

Red and Green Oak

3

Baby Red Leaf

3

Baby Green Leaf

3

Mushrooms

3

Pine Nuts

2

Sunflower Seed Oil

2

Cheese

2

Jasmine Rice

2

Pasta

2

Egg

2

Yellow Bell Peppers

2

Grilled Onions

2

Basil

2

Microbial Ferments

2

Vegetable Enzyme

2

Lactic Culture

2

Asparagus

2

Artichokes

2

Black Olives

2

Ferrous Gluconate

2

Grated Hard Cheese

1

Kaffir Lime

1

Triticale

1

Barley

1

Buckwheat

1

Dried Cane Syrup

1

Brown Rice Syrup

1

Chicory Root Fiber

1

Whole Flax Seeds

1

Walnuts

1

Oat Fiber

1

Vegetable Glycerin

1

Soy Lechithin

1

Cinnamon

1

Evaporated Salt

1

Mixef Tocopherols

1

Moncalcium Phosphate

1

Peanut Flour

1

Nonfat Milk

1

Cholecalciferol

1

Potassium Iodide

1

Biotin

1

Chromium Chloride

1

Pyridoxine Hydrochloride

1

Vitamin A Palmitate

1

Copper Gluconate

1

Zinc Oxide

1

Niacinamide

1

D-Calcium Pantothenate

1

DL-Alpha Tocopheryl

1

Kalamata Olives

1

Dicalcium

1

Sodium Phosphate

1

Ferric Pyrophosphate

1

Potassium Citrate

1

Medium Chain Triglycerides

1

Tricalcium Phosphate

1

Red Gaba Rice

1

Green Curry Sauce

1

Coconut Cream

1

Eggplant

1

Palm Sugar

1

Green Curry Paste

1

Lemon Grass

1

Galangal

1

Sweet Basil Leaves

1

Coriander

1

Mozzarella Cheese

1

Acesulfame Potassium

1

Galanga

1

Coconut Powder

1

Corn Flour

1

Coriander Powder

1

Vegetable Blend

1

Morning Glory

1

Banana Flower

1

Coconut Shoots

1

Balsamic Vinegar

1

Dried Basil

1

Brown Jasmine Rice

1

Thiamin Mononitrate

1

Organic Cane Sugar

1

Crushed Bartley

1

Cracked Wheat

1

Spice

1

Pasteurized Cream

1

Garlic Puree

1

Prepared Black Beans

1

Chum Salmon

1

Maple Syrup

1

Caramelized Sugar Syrup

1

Farm-Raised Uncooked Shrimp

1

Sugar Snap Peas

1

Water Chestnuts

1

Bean Sprouts

1

Swiss Cheese

1

Grape Tomatoes

1

Green Onions

1

Spring Mix

1

Dehydrated Onions

1

Carrageenan

1

Iron

1

Thiamine

1

Mononitrate

1

Cyanocobalamin

1

Whole Grain Oats

1

Oats

1

Hard Red Wheat

1

Rye

1

Sodium Hexametaphosphate

1

Potassium Chloride

1

Magnesium Phosphate

1

Sale

1

Annatto

1

Vitamin D3

1

Cellulose Gum and Gel

1

Natural and Artificial Flavors

1

Dipotassium Phosphate

1

Crystalline Fructose

1

Alkalized Cocoa Powder

1

Milk Protein Isolate

1

Calcium Sodium Caseinate

1

Caffeine

1

Brown Rice

1

Potassium Benzoate

1

Aspartame

1

Caramel Color

1

Carbonated Water

1

Phosphate Sucralose

Awards

Over the 10 weeks, I purchased all sorts of groceries. I crunched the numbers, and gave out awards for the best of the best, and the worst of the worst.

The Good

Best Price-To-Nutrient Ratio

Cut and Peeled Carrots

Healthiest Overall

Organic Carrots

Most Popular Product

Red Delicious Apple

The Not-So-Good

Unhealthiest Overall

Butter

Most Caloric Product

Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter

Fattiest Product

Butter

Most Popular Ingredient

Salt

Saltiest Product

Stacy's Pita Chips

Sugariest Product

Nuts About Raspberries & Chocolate Trek Mix

I carefully tracked all my own grocery purchases with hopes of coming up with a better way to make sense of it all. Where does my food come from? What are my healthiest and unhealthiest choices? Which foods have GMOs? I created a dashboard that shows me all of this information and more.

Most Caloric Product

Fattiest Product

Saltiest Product

Sugariest Product

Tips for Week 8

The Good

Apple streak! Another week of fantastic fruits.

The Bad

Eggs and Whole Milk are high in cholesterol. Just be mindful.

For Next Week

Looks like it's time for you to get back on the cheese train.

The Future

By carefully tracking my own grocery purchase data, I was able to gain a better and more visual understanding into how I consume groceries: where they come from, which ones have GMOs, which ones are the best and worst for me, and so much more.

I believe the food industry has much to gain from giving consumers access to this data, in terms of helping people make more informed choices and ultimately increase trust in the places where they shop.